Breaking Old Habits

 As humans, we are creatures of habit, and often do things not because we need to but rather because it is just the way we have always done them.

Some common examples are:

· Salting your food

· Eating during commercials

· Always purchasing food at the movies

· Eating while studying

· Always over-eating at parties

· Snacking while making dinner

· Eating poorly when you are with friends

· Always eating the same amount of food regardless of your hunger level

· Stopping for an ice-cream or treat on your way home from a weekend destination regardless of your hunger level

The movies just would not be the same without popcorn!  This is a habit and often, people will find themselves ordering popcorn even though they have just had dinner and are feeling quite full.  Another example would be the mid-way rest-stop when coming home from the cottage or a weekend ski-trip.  People will get into the habit of stopping for a Dairy Queen Blizzard or one of their other favorite treats regardless of their hunger level.  Students will often get into the habit of eating while studying for exams. 

The first step to getting control of these nutritional habits is to become aware of your patterns.  A daily exercise and nutrition logbook will allow you to track your behaviors and will make patterns and habits very obvious.  Once you discover what actually stimulates your less-than-healthy behavior, you have the choice of either changing the stimulus or situation or changing your response to the stimulus or situation. 

Here are the action steps you can take to overcoming habitual patterns.

Step one:  Recognize what stimulates the unhealthy action.  Become aware of the habit.  Monitor what you eat, when you eat, who you are with and how you felt.

Step two:  Change the stimulus

Give us a call at Upward Motion Personal Training if you have any questions!!

or visit our website upwardmotionpt.com

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